Climatic characteristics of the semi-arid Coquimbo Region in Chile

Montecinos, Sonia; López-Cortés, Francisco; Lopez, David Humberto

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.09.018

Cited by 35 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…Annual rainfall averages 127 mm (1983–2013), with 95% of the rain falling in the austral winter (i.e. Jun–Aug; Montecinos, Guttiérez, López‐Cortés, & López, ; López‐Cortés & López, ). Fog‐driven water influx (Stanton et al., ), which depends on fog interception by both leaves and stems of trees and shrubs (Figure a), is nearly constant or enhanced during the drier spring and summer months (Oct–Mar; Garreaud, Barichivich, Christie, & Maldonado, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog‐dependent ecosystem

Macek

Schöb

Núñez‐Ávila

et al. 2017

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions:The exceptional occurrence of tall rain forest patches on foggy coastal mountaintops, surrounded by extensive xerophytic shrublands, suggests an important role of plant-plant interactions in the origin and persistence of these patches in semiarid Chile. We asked whether facilitation by shrubs can explain the growth and survival of rain forest tree species, and whether shrub effects depend on the identity of the shrub species itself, the drought tolerance of the tree species and the position of shrubs in regard to wind direction. Location: Open area-shrubland-forest matrix, Fray Jorge Forest National Park, Chile. Methods: We recorded survival after 12 years of a ~3600 tree saplings plantation (originally ~30-cm tall individuals) of Aextoxicon punctatum, Myrceugenia correifolia and Drimys winteri placed outside forests, beneath the shrub Baccharis vernalis, and in open (shrub-free) areas. We assessed the effects of neighbouring shrubs and soil humidity on survival and growth along a gradient related to the direction of fog movement. Results: B. vernalis had a clear facilitative effect on tree establishment and survival since, after ~12 years, saplings only survived beneath the shrub canopy. Long-term survival strongly depended on tree species identity, drought tolerance and position along the soil moisture gradient, with higher survival of A. punctatum (>35%) and M.correifolia (>14%) at sites on wind-and fog-exposed shrubland areas. Sites occupied by the shrub Aristeguietia salvia were unsuitable for trees, presumably due to drier conditions than under B. vernalis. Conclusions:Interactions between shrubs and fog-dependent tree species in dry areas revealed a strong, long-lasting facilitation effect on planted tree's survival and growth.Shrubs acted as benefactors, providing sites suitable for tree growth. Sapling mortality in the shrubland interior was caused by lower soil moisture, the consequence of lower fog loads in the air and thus insufficient facilitation. While B. vernalis was a key ecosystem engineer (nurse) and intercepted fog water that dripped to trees planted underneath, drier sites with A. salvia were unsuitable for trees. Consequently, nurse effects related to water input are strongly site and species specific, with facilitation by shrubs providing a plausible explanation for the initiation of forest patches in this semi-arid landscape.Nomenclature: Marticorena et al. (2001) Fray Jorge Forest National Park is located in the semi-arid zone of the Chilean coast (30°38′S, 71°40′W). Annual rainfall averages 127 mm , with 95% of the rain falling in the austral winter (i.e. K E Y W O R D SAextoxicon punctatum, Baccharis vernalis, drought stress gradient, ecosystem engineers, facilitation, fragmented rain forest, landscape patchiness, plant-plant interactions, succession

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog‐dependent ecosystem

Macek

Schöb

Núñez‐Ávila

et al. 2017

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…In a macro scale, in the area the Coast Range is narrow, oriented to the NS, and immediately toward the east there is a tectonic basin surrounded by mountains of about 1000 m altitude. Because of these topographic characteristics, the atmospheric variables experience important variations in small distances (Montecinos et al, 2016).…”

Section: Study Site and Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The climatic characteristics of the area are influenced by the cold Humboldt Current, which moves northwards along the Chilean coast, and the Southeast Pacific high pressure area. At the coast, strong southerly terrain parallel winds are observed (Rahn et al, 2011) and, because of the sea-land circulation, they move eastwards during the day (Montecinos et al, 2016). The annual precipitation near the coast is around 100 mm concentrated in the austral winter months (May to August), and presents strong interannual variations influenced by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) (Kalthoff et al, 2002;Falvey and Garreaud, 2007).…”

Section: Study Site and Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fog collection and its relationship with local meteorological variables in a semiarid zone in Chile

Montecinos

Cereceda

Rivera

2018

Atm

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En zonas áridas y semiáridas la niebla es considerada un importante recurso hídrico alternativo. El anticiclón del Pacífico Sudeste y la corriente fría de Humboldt que caracteriza al norte de Chile promueve la formación de estratocúmulos a lo largo de la línea de costa. Los vientos térmicamente inducidos mueven estas nubes hacia el este favoreciendo la formación de niebla en las cumbres altas de la Cordillera de la Costa. El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar el agua recolectada por un colector estándar y su relación con las características meteorológicas locales. Encontramos que el agua recolectada depende de la estación del año, siendo mayor en verano que en invierno. El ciclo diario promedio en otoño, primavera y verano presenta dos máximos, uno en la madrugada y el otro en la tarde, mientras que en invierno presenta pocas variaciones durante el día. El régimen de viento es compatible con la circulación mar-tierra. El promedio mensual de temperatura alcanza el máximo valor en marzo y el mínimo entre julio y septiembre. El promedio mensual de la amplitud diaria de la temperatura es mayor en invierno que en verano. El promedio mensual de humedad relativa alcanza el valor mínimo en junio. La recolección de agua de niebla varía desde cero hasta un valor máximo que depende de la rapidez del viento, y ocurre principalmente con vientos del suroeste y noreste. El índice de niebla (FI, por sus siglas en inglés) se define como el porcentaje de días de niebla por mes, en el cual el agua recolectada es mayor que un litro. Encontramos que el FI sigue la misma tendencia que el agua recolectada mensual, y decrece con el promedio mensual de la amplitud diaria de la temperatura. ABSTRACTIn semiarid and arid zones, fog is considered an important alternative water source. The Southeast Pacific anticyclone and the cold Humboldt Current that characterize the north of Chile promote the formation of stratocumulus along the coastline. The thermally induced winds move these clouds eastwards favoring the formation of fog in the high hills of the Coast Range. The goal of this work is to characterize the fog water collected by a standard fog collector and its relationship with local meteorological variables. We found that the collected water is seasonally dependent, larger in summer than in winter. The mean diurnal cycle in autumn, summer and winter presents two maxima, at the early morning and late afternoon, meanwhile in winter it presents smooth variations during the day. The wind regime was compatible with land-sea circulation. The monthly mean temperature reached the maximum value in March and the minimum value between July and September, whereas the mean monthly daily temperature amplitude was larger in winter than in summer. The minimum values of relative humidity were achieved in the winter months. The fog water collection varies from zero to a maximum value that increased with wind speed, and mainly occurred with SW and NE winds. The fog index (FI) was defined as the percentage of foggy-days per month for which the water c...

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“…These regions are typically located at latitudes between 30 and 40 degrees, on the western edge of the continent [16]. Precipitation is strongly influenced by orographic effects through most areas [17][18][19] The seasonality of precipitation is considered the main factor influencing terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the Mediterranean biome [16]. This distinct climate pattern tends to result in high species richness and endemism [20,21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing Precipitation Variability and Trends in the World’s Mediterranean-Climate Areas

Deitch

Sapundjieff

Feirer³

2017

Water

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Abstract:The Mediterranean climate is principally characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. However, there are large variations in precipitation dynamics in regions with this climate type. We examined the variability of precipitation within and among Mediterranean-climate areas, and classified the Mediterranean climate as wet, moderate, or dry based on annual precipitation; and strongly, moderately, or weakly seasonal based on percentage of precipitation during summer. Mediterranean biomes are mostly dry (<700 mm annually) but some areas are wet (>1300 mm annually); and many areas are weakly seasonal (>12% of annual precipitation during summer). We also used NOAA NCDC climate records to characterize interannual variability of annual and dry-season precipitation, as well as trends in annual, winter, and dry-season precipitation for 337 sites that met the data quality criteria from 1975 to 2015. Most significantly, sites in many Mediterranean-climate regions show downward trends in annual precipitation (southern California, Spain, Australia, Chile, and Northern Italy); and most of North America, the Mediterranean basin, and Chile showed downward trends in summer precipitation. Variations in annual and summer precipitation likely contribute to the high biodiversity and endemism characteristic of Mediterranean-climate biomes; the data indicate trends toward harsher conditions over the past 40 years.

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Climatic characteristics of the semi-arid Coquimbo Region in Chile

Cited by 35 publications

References 10 publications

Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog‐dependent ecosystem

Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog‐dependent ecosystem

Fog collection and its relationship with local meteorological variables in a semiarid zone in Chile

Characterizing Precipitation Variability and Trends in the World’s Mediterranean-Climate Areas

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